Hydrocycle



Jim. 5, 1926..

R. F. HAMME, JR

HYDROCYCLE Filed June 50, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. Z] 15 67227736, J2 mvzn'mn ATTORNEY WITNES:

Jan. 5,1926; 1,568,831 R. F. HAMME, JR

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-@ 0 o f. o o 0 b 1Q $1 w o o o o Q v 9 w I \fi I RJHQWZWZLQJZ' ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

RICHARD F. HAMME, JR., OF WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

I-IYDROCYCLE.

Application filed June 30, 1925. Serial No. 40,688.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, R CHARD F. HAMME, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vilmington, in the county of New Hanover and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hydrocycles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in hydrocycles, thegeneral object being to provide a pair of pontoons and a supporting means in the form of a bicycle construction and connected in turn with a screw propeller and rudder therefor whereby the said hydrocycle may be both propelled and guided by the operator in a similar manner *ith the riding and simulating in every respect the movement through which a bicycle rider takes during the operation thereof.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further. includes the follow ing novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of my invention per se.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference characters 10 indicate a pair of pontoons which may be constructed of wood, iron, steel, aluminum or vulcanized rubber and preferably include concaved bottoms 11 so that less resistance will be caused upon the water when the pontoons are so placed and allow the water thus passed over to be guided rearwardly along a concaved bottom 11 whereby a greater rate of speed may be attained. A plurality of spacing plates 12, 13 and 14 respectively are arranged at spaced intervals along the length of the pontoons and transversely thereof; the spacing plates 12 and 13 having supporting bars 15 secured to their upper sides and upon opposite sides of their intermediate portions between the corresponding inner sides of the said pontoons 10, the purpose of which will be presently apparent.

In order to provide means for propelling the said pontoons 10, I provide a substantially U-shaped frame 16 having outwardly and transversely disposed attaching ears 17 provided upon diametrically opposite sides thereof and secured to the-upper side and adjacent the intermediate point of the length of the said supporting bars 15 while its lower edges extend downwardly an appreciable distance between the correspond ing inner sides of the pontoons 10. Journaled within and extending between the lower free ends of the said frame 16 is a shaft 18 having fixed thereto a combined relatively small gear 19 and beveled gear 20 which gear 19 meshes with a relatively large gear 21 mounted upon a sprocket arm 22 journaled within the upper portion of the frame 16 and having pedals 23 upon the outer free ends of the sprocket arm 22.

A propeller shaft 28 extends rearwardly and downwardly between the corresponding inner sides of the pontoons l0 and having its forward and rear end portions journaled within sleeves 24 and 25, the sleeve 24- being" suspended from a transversely disposed relatively short plate26 to the under sides of the supporting bars 15, while the sleeve 25 is suspended upon the lower end of a plate 27 secured to the under side of the spacing plate 14. The forward end of the propeller shaft as indicated at 28 has mounted thereon a pinion 29 meshing with the beveled gear 20 in order that the said propeller shaft may be rotated thereby in turn ing or rotating a propeller 30 included upon the rear end portion of the said propeller shaft 28.

Supported upon the upper sides of the pontoons l0, and extending upwardly and inwardly therefrom upon supporting blocks 31 are pairs of bars 32 and 33 respectively which have their upper free ends associated; the upper free ends of the bars 32 having a seat 34: similar in con struction to a bicycle seat while a vertically disposed shaft is journaled within a sleeve 36 supported by the bars 33 and having steering apparatus applied upon the upper free end thereof in the form of handle bars 37 while its lower free end of the shaft includes a universal joint 38 thereupon, the purpose of which will be presently apparent.

Terminating at its respective end portions with offset sleeves 40 received upon the upper portions of the bars 32 and lower portion of the sleeves 36 is a brace bar 39 while an auxiliary brace bar 4-1 secured to the upper side and adjacent an intermediate point the length of the brace bar 39 and having the upper free end secured to the corresponding inner side of the sleeve 36 whereby the said supporting apparatus and mounting therefor will be held rigidly upon the said pontoons 10 when in use.

Journaled within the free end portion of a. plate and secured to the upper side of the spacing plate 14 and between the cone sponding inner sides of the pontoons i0 is a rudder shaft 43 supporting the rudder ist upon its lower free ends while a rod or shaft 4:5 is connected to the upper free end of the shaft 43 and having its opposite end associated with the universal joint 38 ineluded upon the lower free end of the ver tically disposed shaft in order that the said rudder 4A may be oscillated from a like movement imparted upon the handle bars 37 whereby the said pontoons 10 may be steered about in the water in a like manner and simulating in every respect the working organisms of: a bicycle, save for the wheels.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details oi construction, and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claim. 3

Having thus described my invention what is claimed is v A hydrocycle of the character described comprising a pair of pontoons having spacing plates secured to the upper sides thereof, longitudinally disposed supporting bars arranged upon the upper sides of and intermediate the length of the spacing plates, a bicycle construction mounted upon the upper sides or the pontoons and directly over the supporting bars, a substantially iJ-shaped frame mounted upon the supporting bars and having a sprocket arm and gear mounted within the upper portion thereof, a driven shaft journaled. within the lower portion of the frame and having a combined small gear and beveled gear fixed thereon and meshing with the large gear, a propeller shaft mounted between the pontoons and adjacent the rear ends thereof and including a pinion upon its forward end meshing with the beveled gear, a propeller fixed to the rear free end or the propeller shaft, a rudder mounted upon and between the rear end of the propellers, and a connecting rod secured to the rudder and communicating with the steering apparatus of the bicycle construction substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. s

RICHARD F. HAMME. J R. 

